Florida Army National Guard - History

History

The predecessor of the United States Florida Army National Guard was a Spanish militia that was originally formed in 1565 in the newly established Spanish presidio town of Saint Augustine, Florida. On September 20, 1565, Menéndez de Avilés attacked Fort Caroline (Jacksonville) which was the center of the French Huguenots.

In 1702-1704 an inter Indian Native American conflict started as part of Queen Anne's War, involving the English armies on one side and the Spanish on another resulted in the Apalachee massacre. The conflict later also escalated into the Yamasee War. Spain ceded St. Augustine to Britain in 1763, in exchange for Havana, and it became the capital of East Florida. St. Augustine was ceded back to Spain in 1783.

Upon the end of the First Seminole War Spain ceded Florida to the United States. The process was finalized after the ratification of the Adams–Onís Treaty in 1821. United States merged two Floridas into an organized territory in 1822 and transferred the capital to Tallahassee. From 1835 to 1842 the Second Seminole War resulted in the elimination by force of most of the Native Americans from the territory. Florida was incorporated into the United States as a state in 1845. After Florida's incorporation into the United States problems with Seminoles continued until almost 1860.

The militia served under Spain for 236 years, Great Britain for 20 years, and the Confederate States of America for 5 years. The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system. The FL ARNG included the 48th Armored Division from 1954 to 1968.

The Florida Army National Guard was composed of approximately 9,950 soldiers in January 2001.